Kentucky may be a long ways from Solano County, but it’s always close to Clarence Williams’ heart — and musical soul.

Williams, a Fairfield resident since serving in the U.S. Navy 1974-’77, fondly remembers growing up Louisville “where there was a band on every block and sometimes two bands rehearsing in garages, basements, living rooms and dinning rooms. You could hear them going from one block to the next.”

“That’s where I got my music inspiration,” Williams said.

Williams, 62, carries his musical roots with him entering his 16th year with 2nd Planet, a quartet of smooth jazz, R&B, and funk playing Sticky Rice Bistro in Fairfield on Saturday.

It’s only eight miles to the venue from Williams’ home but, beyond the transportation convenience, he said it’s a cozy gig.

“It’s a great social atmosphere for family and friends to meet and a great atmosphere for music,” Williams said, adding that 2nd Planet’s “diverse mixture of styles” is always a crowd favorite.

Joined by Michael Hester, George Franklin and Marvin Eguia, the left-handed guitarist said the original tunes of 2nd Planet was his goal from the start in 2000.

Sure, there have been players coming and going, but that’s OK, Williams said.

“The bottom line is as long as the music keeps going,” he said. “That’s the main thing.”

From the start, this was not going to be a tribute band.

“I wanted the group to play original music,” Williams said. “Our credibility and reputation is based off our original music.”

Before 2nd Planet, it had been years since Williams toiled in a band, he said, though he recorded a solo CD in 1997.

Yearning to add depth to the music, “I got further inspired to start a group,” he said.

So far, it’s obviously worked out. And no reason to stop, Williams said.

“I feel the benefit is to just bring people together and get caught up in the moment,” he said. “The social climate in the U.S. and the world is not so good and when we play, everybody’s happy, everybody’s sociable, everybody’s feeling good and that’s really what it’s all about. That’s what makes it worth playing music, seeing people enjoying themselves and not thinking of anything else.”

Again, Williams reaches back to his Louisville roots where he recently visited and checked in with one of his “hometown musical mentors.” Just thinking of the professionals that came out of his community makes Williams grateful he pursued music. Musicians who played with James Brown, Earth Wind & Fire, Al Green.

“You had all these musicians, great artists and groups,” Williams said. “It was a great place to grow up musically.”

Williams said he’s happy to keep his gigs to one or two a month, leaving time for his retail job and wife of 42 years. Fortunately, she supports his music.

It would take a major offer to get Williams on the road. Besides his devotion to family and obligation to the job, “the Bay Area is a musical mecca,” Williams said. “There are some great venues here.”

Besides, across the land, “there are not a lot of venues for the style of music we play,” Williams said. “In the Bay Area, we’re fortunate. We don’t have to think about going on the road. We have a good audience right here.”

Though he’s played guitar — and upside down at that — for decades, Williams is always looking to improve.